Neumann has announced the release of the new KH 120 II studio monitor that builds on its predecessor while offering improvements in all acoustic parameters for deeper bass, higher SPL capability, and increased resolution in addition to its internal DSP engine allowing for phase linear crossovers and room correction via the company’s MA 1 Automatic Alignment.
“It is part of the Neumann ethos to never be satisfied with what has been achieved so far,” says portfolio manager Stephan Mauer, “The KH 120 garnered hundreds of 5-star reviews, yet we knew that we could make it even better. For the KH 120 II we’ve developed a novel woofer design that reduces distortion audibly and allows for much higher SPLs. In addition to an exceptionally flat frequency response from 44 Hz to 21 kHz (±3 dB), the KH 120 II also offers a linearized phase response. Which translates to clear mids with astonishing transparency as well as extreme accuracy in the time domain, i.e. precise impulse reproduction and finely resolved reverbs.”
“Even the best studio monitor is dependent on its acoustic environment,” adds Neumann CEO Ralf Oehl. “So, being able to use the KH 120 II with Neumann’s Automatic Monitor Alignment MA 1 is an enormous advantage in terms of real-world performance. Finally, you can work with reliable reference-class monitoring even in less-than-ideal environments such as small studios or makeshift control rooms for mobile recording. But of course, the KH 120 II is also an excellent solution for professional studios, editing suites, and even immersive setups.”
The internal DSP is designed to provide a high degree of tonal consistency, with low tolerances stated to be no more than ±0.5 dB. A new patent-pending amplifier technology combines quality audio performance with the energy efficiency of class D. Although the amplifiers are stated to deliver up to 145 watts to the 5.25-inch woofer and 100 watts to the 1-inch tweeter, they only consume 17 watts at idle. Auto-standby reduces power consumption to 0.3 watts when the KH 120 II has not been used for a while, but it can be deactivated.
The KH 120 II offers analog and digital inputs (S/PDIF), and will also be available in an AES67 variant with redundant AES67 audio network ports that are compliant with broadcast standards such as ST 2110, ST 2022-7 redundancy, and RAVENNA. At the same time, the KH 120 II AES67 is compatible with Dante-generated AES67 network streams.
The KH 120 II and KH 120 II AES67 will be available starting April 17, 2023. List prices: KH 120 II — € 899/$999; KH 120 II AES67 — € 1195/$1250. Go here for more specifics.
